Straight No Chaser performs at Symphony Hall

In 1989, Jerome Collins was a 13-year-old Allentown boy who, as a member of Singing Boys of Pennsylvania, got a dream chance to perform with Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra in Allentown's storied Symphony Hall.

Twenty-three years later, Collins is principal singer of Straight No Chaser, the pop a cappella singing group that became a YouTube sensation in 2007 for its video performance of "The 12 Days of Christmas" that was made for a 10-year reunion of an Indiana University choir.

The sudden popularity of the song prompted Atlantic records to offer the group's 10 members a recording contract. In the five years since, the group has released three discs that hit Top 50 on Billboard's albums chart and criss-crossed the world on tours. Its repertoire ranges from holiday songs to a cappella versions of contemporary hits such as "Wonderwall" by Oasis and "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5.

Collins returned to Allentown on Sunday, leading Straight No Chaser into Miller Symphony Hall for the first performance in his hometown. The group performed two sold-out shows.

"The acoustics in that place are, bar none, some of the best," Collins said during a recent interview.

"Symphony Hall is one of those places that if we … ever wanted to do a full off-mike show, that is the place to do it. That's the beauty of the acoustics in that place. The place is a treasure, and it's going to set this apart from any other show that we've done."

Even more than the beauty of the performance space, Collins says the return to Allentown represents his singing career coming full circle. The only other time the group has played in the Lehigh Valley was a 2011 headline show at Bethlehem's Musikfest.

In advance of its Allentown shows, Straight No Chaser performed live on NBC's "Today" show on Friday.